Filipina tennis ace Alexandra Eala is set to launch her 2026 Australian Open campaign this Sunday, January 18, squaring off against towering American opponent Alycia Parks at Melbourne Park.
Road to Melbourne: Eala's Rising Momentum
The 20-year-old sensation from the Philippines enters the first Grand Slam of the year with significant confidence. She recently achieved a career-high ranking of World No. 49 following a strong semifinal finish at the ASB Classic in Auckland on January 10. Seeded fourth in that WTA 250 tournament, Eala's run was halted by China's Wang Xinyu in a tight three-set battle, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6.
Her form was further confirmed with a decisive 6-3, 6-4 victory over experienced Croatian Donna Vekic in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic just this Wednesday. Notably, during her Auckland campaign, Eala also scored a massive win in the round of 32, overcoming the 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The First-Round Challenge: Facing Alycia Parks
Eala's first hurdle in Melbourne is the powerful Alycia Parks, currently ranked World No. 100. The 6-foot-1 American, a three-time WTA 125 title winner, has proven her capability on the big stage. Parks peaked at No. 40 in 2023 and made a historic Grand Slam debut at the 2021 US Open. There, she blasted a 129 mph serve, matching Venus Williams' record set in 2007 for the fastest women's serve in the tournament's history.
Eala's Historic Pedigree and Title Credentials
Alexandra Eala is no stranger to making history herself. She is the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam match in the Open era, a feat she accomplished at the 2025 US Open by defeating 14th seed Clara Tauson in a thrilling first-round encounter, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11).
Her breakthrough season also included a spectacular run as a wildcard at the prestigious WTA1000 Miami Open, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions consecutively to reach the semifinals. The crowning achievement of her young career so far came last September when she captured her first WTA title at the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico, rallying to beat Hungary's Panna Udvardy 1-6, 7-5, 6-3.
As the 2025 SEA Games gold medalist prepares for her Australian Open opener, the Philippine sports community watches with anticipation, hoping she can channel her recent winning form and deep reservoir of big-match experience into another memorable Grand Slam performance.
